Patrick Baghdaserians has a secret that helps him quickly settle divorce
cases that sometimes have languished for years in the care of other lawyers:
he prepares for every single case as if he is going to trial.

Baghdaserians, an associate family law attorney at the Law Offices of Donald
P. Schweitzer in Pasadena, said conducting “diligent discovery”
is a part of knowing everything about a case – especially locating
the other spouse’s hidden assets – and his skill at finding
those assets gives him the edge he needs.

“I make sure that I cover all the bases, that I look under every
single rock, and into every single creditor,” Baghdaserians said.
“I make sure that I’m getting the information I need, because
once I have it all, I can usually settle the case quickly and effectively.”

Baghdaserians shared a case he handled last summer, which was previously
held by one of the largest family law firms in Beverly Hills. The client
had spent $250,000 and waited for more than two years but little progress
towards a resolution was made.

But after Baghdaserians got the case, settlements were made within six
months – and both parties were left happy.

“We’re talking 10 pieces of property, millions of dollars and
countless claims of separate property by the opposing party. And fortunately
for my client, these claims were finally dropped. Why? Because through
filing motions and putting the pressure on, we made them put all their
cards on the table,” he said.

The graduate of Southwestern University School of Law attorney said he
preferred his cases settled out of court not only because it’s more
cost effective but it is more likely that favorable resolutions can be
achieved, but also because in most family cases, children are involved.
The stress of court cases can be psychologically damaging to youngsters.

“I believe it’s important to put that in perspective for the
client,” Baghdaserians said. “My job is to make sure there’s
more smiles on both sides. Not just on my client’s but on the opposing
side too, because the best type of settlement and divorce resolution is
one that everybody can live with.”

But for those who do not want to settle the case and pursue a court trial,
Baghdaserians has only one game plan: “Put his gloves on and fight
for his client.”

Baghdaserians handles many multi-million dollar cases that involve financial
discovery, business and real property valuation, and retrieval of hidden
or omitted assets. However, regardless of the case size, he gives each
client the same attention to detail with the goal of obtaining the best
possible outcome.

He pointed out that it is not the money that drives him to work on each
case, but the drive to see its successful resolution.

“My goal is to get my clients everything that they deserve to move
on with their lives,” Baghdaserians said.

The Pasadena lawyer is also an expert on cases involving child custody,
visitation and support determination, long term spousal support determination,
premarital agreements and domestic violence.

Baghdaserians requires his clients to be honest with him.

“The most important thing for me is honesty. If you’re not
truthful to your attorney, then your attorney can’t properly represent
you,” he said.

Baghdaserians graduated from Loyola Marymount University and later entered
Southwestern University School of Law where he received extensive courtroom
experience from the Honorable Robert M. Takasugi, in the Federal District
Court for the Central District of California.

The Law Offices of Donald P. Schweitzer is located at 201 South Lake Ave. Suite 800